CHAPTER 49

"I don"t want to wear that." Sophia gives me pre-schooler side-eye, then runs across the room toward her toys. I sit back on my heels, the dress clutched in my hands, and wish for caffeine. I offered to take my half sister to daycare today before starting on my work, but it"s proving harder than expected. I scan her room, looking at the white furniture, the rainbow bedspread, the corner box of toys and puzzles where she"s currently pulling things out, one after another. "Hey, let"s play a game," I decide. "If you can pick out all your school things, I"ll sing you a song in the car." Miracle of miracles, it works. After dropping her off, I head to the café that used to be my favorite in high school and open my tablet. When I emailed Miranda to say I"d be in Dallas a couple of weeks working, she agreed. I promised we"d email every day or two to talk progress. There"s another person I need to update, and I"m